Improvement in combined washer and amalgamator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. TYSON.

oMBINED WASHER ANn AMALGAMATOR. No.'189,528. Patented Apri11o,1a77.

N'PEYERS. PHOTQ-LITHDGRAPHER, WASHMGTON. D C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. TYSON. COMBINED WASHER AND AMALGAMATOR. 189,528.

Patented AprllO, 1877.

N-PETERS. PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEBRYAN T-YS'ON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

' IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED WASHER AND AMALGAMATOR.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 189,528, dated April10, 1877 application led March 3, 1877.

. of Columbia, haveinvented certain` Improvement-s inOombined Washer andAmalgamator, as improvements upon my previous patents, dated November 3,1874, and numbered 156,448, and September 28,1875, and numbered 168,1165 and it consists in the construction ofthe several parts of themachine, as will be fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view Fig.2. a side view; 1"ig.3,a top or planfview. Fig.4is an enlarged top viewof ,some of the details.` Fig. 5 is a sectional view, th rough line wmof Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a broken view of the under side of a portion ofthe. first or upper pair of agitators. Fig.4 7 is alsoa part view oftheunder side of lower pair of agitators. Fig. tJ is a cross-sectionalview` ofFi'g. 6. Fig. 7a is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 7, and Fig.-8 represents a section of the upper side of Fig. 6.

Arepresents the receiving-grate, upon which the earth that contains thegold or other mineral is irst placed, and it is sustained upon the topof the washer, and is composed of a series of ygirate-bars, a, andopenings a between theivgrate-bars, as is seen in Fig. 3, which mayextend entirely across the lower Hume,l or only a part of the width, asmay be desired. The grate-bars a and the frame a, in whichtheyare'plac'ed, are of such construction that said bars can be readilyremoved from the frame, others replaced and secured in their position bya simple key, a5. The frame of this grate is composed of uprights althat go transversely across the grating, and these unite at their endswith the plates a", which have mortises a4 to receive holdingkey' a5,that passes through the side plates a and ,into grooves a6 'in the sideof the web of the grate-bar a. By this construction the gratelbars canbe removed from the frame by simplytaking out the holding-keys that holdthem, and they can be replaced at any time,

andv when replaced the keys put in their place,

vand the grate-bar is again secured in the frame.

B B are the sides or inclosures of the machine, and ,supportV thegrating land other parts, and is preferably made of wood, and supportedupon any foundation that will give toit the proper slope and position;and this inclosure may be in any desirable form, but the form shown inplan view, Fig. 3, is the one adopted.

This inclosure or receiver is divided longitudinally into several parts,of which B' forms the upper or receiving one, and is located underneaththe grating, and is the part or section to receive the sand or earthymatter that contains the gold as it falls or is carried by the waterthrough openings a' between the gratebars a.

C is a rifde extending transversely across the receiver, and preventsthe water and heavier material from passing out of the division B untilitflows over the top of the riftle, which is two-thirds, more or less,as high as the sides of the receiver. This rifde is of considerablelength down the current, and has numerous grooves or pockets, c, uponitsupper surface in a direction across the water-current for the receptionof quicksilver, the purpose of which is to catch such particles of goldas may, in passing over the riftle, fall into the grooves, and wheresuch particles will remain until they are removed therefrom. The topsurface ofthe rife has usually been constructed of blocks of wood set onend; but I prefer the removable metal grating, as seen at w, in Fig. 3,as such grating wears longer, and is easier removed from its seat toclean up.

D is the next part or division that receives the water, and what thewater carries over the riftle O.

E is a breakwater or riftle that interferes with the dow of 'water anddirt, and is ot peculiar construction. The side nearest the head ot' theliume is concave, as seen at c, Fig. 1, the curvature of which leaves asharp edge projecting backward against the intlowing current of water atits top edge, Which tends to break the onward iow of the water andpartially turn the current back, so as to cause a more gentle dow ofwater over another of the metal riftle-grates c, similar in constructionto rifde O, situated a short distance below and seated in the top sideof the breakwater E.

F is another division which receives the onward ow of water and earthymatter from the riie E, while partition or rifle f inter rupts thecontinuous ow onward to the tail ofthe machine, a dat top plate beingattached to its upper edge and made to project more or less on eitherside.

G is another division to receive the' en ward iiow, being terminated onthe lower side by a partition or ri'ie, g, having its top grooved forthe reception ot' quicksilver, which will catch such particles ot' goldas may fall therein.

H is another division, and has partition or riftle It on its lower side,over which the water flows.

I is another and last division of the washer, and receives the currentafter it passes over rifde h, and within which is a trough, I', thesides of which are about half the height of riftle h. This trough I' hasat a distance from each end transverse blocks t" of proper depth, andwhich have a central transverse groove, i", ou their top edges. t'" arebackwardlyinclined pieces at the ends of and extending from the top edgeof trough I' on the up stream, side, back, and down toward the bottomot' the washer. t" are four nozzles or pipes within the trough toproduce jets of water at the outer part of the trough for the purposeot' keeping the sand loose over the quicksilver previously placed in thetwo end compartments of said troughs.

Water-pipes f" through riftle f, g' through sides B B, and h" throughrife h are all for agitating the water and preventing any inconvenientaccumulation of sand in immediate vicinity, and are all supplied,including i4, by pipesjj, that connect with the pipes and nozzles, andare supplied from a common reservoir by any known method.

J is the last riflie located at the tail of the washer, the top of whichis supplied with a grooved plate to be wholly or with only a portion ofthe grooves upstream filled with quicksilver as a means of catching suchparticles of ne gold as may not have been previously arrested in themanipulations to which it has been subjected. If only a portion of thegrooves be filled with quieksilver those not iilled will serve to catchsuch quicksilver as may be washed down from above.

K K are ways upon which the carryingwheels It k travel, that support theframe L L of a reciprocating agitator.

The agitators, of which there are two or more pairs, are suspended belowthe frame L by the suspending-rods l l. The rst or upper pair arerepresented hy m m' in Figs. 6 and 8, and are composed of bars l and 1that reciprocate across the washer. These bars have upwardlyprojectingribs 2 ou their top side, which form intermediate grooves 3. A series ofprojecting pins, 4, are also provided ou each bar. While the bar m hasbetween the ribs a series of mortises, 5, through it, as seen in brokenFig. 8, the lower bar m' may be made either plain or with similarmortises 5, preferably, however, with the mortises. The

ribs 2 will be required in either case. But beth bars af the pair havetheir ander sides furnished with downwardlyprojecting angular-shapedpieces 6 to prevent an inconvenient accumulation of sand under theagitators, and also to serve the purpose of scouring rusty gold; se astd cause it te amalgamate with quicksilver. Bar m is a little higherthan bar m', with a pace between the bars, as seen in Fig. 6a, oth,however, being ou any required grade.

The second pair of Vagitators are also composed of' bars n and n'. Upperbar n is set to be inclined slightly down and forward, with a series ofupwardly-projecting pins, 7, ou the top and angular blocks 8 upon thebottom side of the bar, some ot' which project beyond its edge andtoward the bar n.

The lower bar n' is angular ih form, with its widest edgeat the top, andhas projecting pins 9 upon its sides and anglar projections upon itsbottom edge, as seen in Figs. 7 and These agitators are put inreciprocation by an upright revolving crank-shaft, O, crank o, andpitman o', that is attached to the crank at one end, while the other endis pivoted to frame L at o". The shaft 0 may be revolved by anyconvenient power.

P is a frame raised above and upon the washer, and is provided withmechanism for automatically supplying quicksilver to the washer.

P' is a vibrating arm attached to reciprocating frame L at p, and toframe P at p. P" is a driving-pawl pivoted to arm P' atp", so that itsfree end will engage a toothed wheel, Q, which is journale'd in frame Pby a crank-shaft, q, and revolves freely therein. q' is a holding-pawlpivoted to frame P at 19"', so that its free end will engage with theteeth of wheel Q and hold it from a backward movement.

R is a crank on shaft q, to which is attached pitman R' at r, and thepitman is pivoted at its upper end to a guide-rod at 1". This guiderodworks in guide-plates rr" and 1"" to give a perpendicular reciprocationto the outer limb of' the rod R". S is the outer limb of rod R, andreciprocates in a guide-arm, S', that extends from, and is fast to,frame P.

T is plunger attached to a rod', t, that is adjustable in arm S', andhas a small groove in one side. (Not shown in drawings.) Attached to thelower end of the reciprocating rod S is a cup, T', with a spout, t',that 'communicates with the inside of the cup.

V is a cistern to hold quicksilver, open at the top, and resting on thetop of the washer, of a diameter larger 'than the cup T', so that thecup can freely enter into the cistern, and, as the wheel Q revolves, theYcrank reciprocates the arm with the cup thereon, and the cup is forced`downward into the cisteru and submerged in the quicksilver, which tllsthe cup, when the further revolutionof the wheel causes the cup, nowfull of lquicksilver, to

rise, so that the plunger will enter the top of the cup and forcethequicksilver out ofthe cup, by the groove inthe plunger, through the.spout, when it will fall into the funnel v, thence through pipe lv', andbe delivered upon rifflef. z

The operation of my device is as fol-lows: The water, sands, and otherdebris con taining gold or other minerals is washed down from the mineby the method known as hydraulic, and this water, usually from eighthundred to two thousand inches, flows over thevgratebars designated byA. The construction of said bars is such as to cause the sand and dbriscontaining gold or other minerals to pass through openings between thebars, the gold being-afterward separated from the sands by means ofmechanism hereinafterdescribed. The larger stones will be washed overand beyond said bars,r fall into the dump below, and pass on. The waterand dbris passing through the spacesbetween the bars, will be again`united with that which has passed over the dump at the nearestpracticable point below'it. V Y r The grate-bars are-usually twenty-fourin number, having'spaces between them from th ree-eighths to one-haltlinch, and reach -across the flume leading from the mine, being vusuallyfrom three to six feet in length. This plan for grate-bars has manyadvantages over any heretofore known to have been used. Each baris-composed of two pieces, both being preferably made of cast metal. Thetop bars should be made of white or other hard metal, and may bechilled. The bottom bars may bemade of softtough metal, such as Scotchpig. v Y -1 set forth in the washer, commencing just beyond the sectionrcovered by the gratebars, a portion of a device Anow in common use inCalifornia, called an V under current.7 Said device is composed ofwooden blocks, say, twelve inches` long, stood endwise,l having smallinterstices between, say. oueehalf inch, and reaching across the washer,into which qnicksilver is poured 'to arrest and` 'catch the gold. A pittwelve inches deep is thus `formed immediately beyondthe grate-bars,into which the sands and other vdebris `containing .gold will fall. Y v

The block plalbfas shown, is defective in several particulars.l In theiirstlplace, `the edges situatedv up stream soon. become worn by theaction `of the' sand and gravel, andwhen thus worn, the gold, whenstriking against them, s more apt to rebound and pass on. lhaveintroduced asan .improvement on this plan a metallic grooved rife,containing three or more grooves, divided into a number of compartments,and preferaf bly made of some hard castmetal. Said compartments are tobefilled with quicksilver, for the purpose `ofcatching and amalgamatingsuch gold as may by the action-jot' the water vbe washedtherein. ThisAriffle will Wear but little in comparison withthe blocks,

4have acquired such speed as to permit but little,if any, more gold tosettle in any further descent. To remedy this l introduce a breakwater,which again causes the water and sands to flow gently until the nextgrooved rifle is passed over. e

A few feet beyond the grooved riffle, situated next to and below thebreakwater, We cross the washer with a riftle-bar some eight or nineinches deep. This rifdebar serves as another breakwater, and againsecures a more gentle dow of water over the residue of the works. Y Thetirst pair of reciprocating agitators is situated near this point,between two rifde-bars, the one above referred to being the upper bar.When in operation these agitators serve to keep the sand loose, and thuscause a precipitation of the passing gold and quicksilver coming fromabove.

By the use ot' the angular projections on the under sides of theseagitators I accomplish the following results: The sands under saidagitators` are kept loose, and thus unnecessary wear prevented. Therusty gold is scoured, and thus made to amalgamate with quicksilver. Thegold and quicksilver are worked by the action of the agitators to thesides of the washer, where they tind a safe and permanent place ofdeposit (we mean until taken out) in the cavities in the sand blown outby the jets of water on either side.

At each end of these reciprocating agi tators we have horizontal jets ofwater. These jets, by forcing out the sands in their immediate vicinity,answer the double purpose of causing the agitators to run much easierand with but little or no wear of the points thereof, the portions thatheretofore have worn the most. The cavities formed have already beenreferred to as safe receptacles for gold and quicksilver.

A For the purpose of more regular and thorough amalgamation, l employ anautomatic device for feeding quicksilver into the washer at some pointon the riffle-bar situated above the first pair of agitators.

The construction of the washer is such as to cause eddies at each sideopposite the ends ofthe agitators, the Washer' being widened a shortdistance above the lirst pair of agitators, and by obstructions placedimmediately above the second or lower pair to secure this effect. Theangular projections on the bottom side of the upper pair ot' agitatorsare so shaped as to Work the gold and quicksilver principally r to thesides ofthe washer, where an extension of the grooved riftle immediatelybelow makes it about double width at those points. Should any gold andquicksilver, instead of settling in the cavities in the sand, formed asaforesaid, be blown over by the jets of water onto the grooved rifde,which has previously been supplied with quicksilver, excellentfacilities w-ill be oiered for such gold or quicksilver to settletherein, as the current is very gentle in comparison with that flowingdown the main channel.

The obstruction plates or guards placed at the ends of riffle h, whichis located immediately above the lower pair of agitators, have atendency to cause inconvenient accumulations of sand in the vicinity ofthe grooved rile, situated immediately below the first or upper pair ofagitators. 'Io remedy this impedimentI introduce at each end of thegrooved riflle a jet of water dowing from under the said grooved riflledown stream. These jets will not only remedy said defect, but form twomore cavities in the sand for the reception of such gold and quicksilveras may pass over the aforesaid grooved riffle.

But little gold will be caught in the aforesaid grooved rie, except atthe ends thereof.

The gold-bearing dbris next passes onto the second and last pair ofagitators, where it is again subjected to action nearly similar to thatreceived from the first pair, the principal di'erence being this: Thefirst agitator of the last pair settles the gold and quicksilver ontothe plate before passing it ont-o the lower or last agitator; the secondone settles them still lower, until they are brought in contact with theangular projections on the bottom of the same, by which they are workedto either end, until brought over the deposits of quicksilver in eachend of the trough I', when the action of the agitator, aided by jets ofwater, causes them to settle into said deposits of quicxsilver. Thegrooved riffle, sit uated just below, and which has previously beensupplied with quicksilver, is for the purpose of catching such gold andquicksilver as may not have been precipitated and saved above. Itfurnishes excellent facilities, as the gold and quicksilver will mainly,owing to the action of the agitators above, pass down at or near thesides of the washer, where the current is comparatively weak.

The pins on the top surface of the upper one of the lower pair ofagitators serve to impede the force of the water, and thus adord greaterfacilities for the gold and quicksilver to settle thereon previously tobeing passed onto the next or lowest agitator.

The agitators furnish one other important advantage in the saving ofgold and quicksilver. The agitators, by keeping the sand looseimmediately above them, cause the sand to wash down to a lower grade,and, consequently, give the current in the vicinity a more gentle flowthan it would otherwise have. Thus, in the vicinity of the upper groovrdrifdes and blades, where there is no machinery, it has been foundnecessary, in

order to prevent the sand from clogging and remaining behind, to placethe wooden blocks and grooved riffles on an incline at the rate of teninches iu twelve feet; but in the vicinity of the agitators a fall atthe rate of live inches in twelve feet is ample.

1. The removable. grate-. bar a, provided with the groove a6 in the sideof the web part, as and for the purposes described.

2. In a. machine for washingI and amalgamating gold, the grate toreceive the goldbearing earth, composed of the sides a, transverseplates a", grate-bars a, and keys a5, all constructed and arranged asand for the purposes substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the rie-arrest C, of the removable grateXseated in its upper face, and provided witha series of parallel groovesor pockets, substantially as herein set forth.

4. The riffle or arrest E,.provided with a concave, e, in its upstreamfaceas and for the purposes substantially as described.

5. The rifde f, having a projecting top, f', in combination withreciprocating agitatorbars m and m', as and for the purposes described.

6. 'Ihe reciprocating barsmand m', provided with angular projections 6on their under sides, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The reciprocating agitator-bars m and m', having ribs 2 andintervening grooves 3 ou their upper sides, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

8. The reciprocating agitator-bars m and m', provided with mortifes orholes 5, formed transversely through the bars, substantially as and forthe purposes described.

9. The agitator-bars m and m', provided with ribs 2, intervening grooves3, and mortises 5, as and for the purposes described.

10. The reciprocating agitator-bar n, liaving a series of pins on itstop side, and angular projections on its under sides, substantially asdescribed.

11. The reciprocatingagitator-bar n', angular in form, and with pinsprojecting from its sides, substantially as described.

12. In a machine for washing and amalgamating gold, av reciprocating.agitator, coinposed of the frame L, agitator-bars m and m n and n',constructed as described, in combination with two or more grooved rifes,such as fg h, and trough I', as and for the purposes described.

13. The trough I', having transverse blocks il and nozzles '54, incombination with the agitator-bars n', as and. for the purposessubstantially as described.

14. The nal rifIle J, with the grooves or grating on its top,constructed as shown, in combination with the trough I', provided withthe water-nozzles i, and the reciprocating agitator-bar n', as and forthe purposes described.

15. .lhe combiuationwith thewater-pipes 18. In a machine for washing andamalgamating gold, the automatic device for supplying quicksilver in theoperation, consisting of the combination of the adjustable plunger T,reciprocating cup T', cistern V, funnel o, and pipe o', substantially iuthe manner and for the purpose described.

BRYAN TYSON.

Witnesses J. MASON GoszLER, NEWTON CRAWFORD.

